Against second division team Kofu
The Japanese first division team Sanfrecce Hiroshima with the German coach Michael Skibbe lost the final in the Emperor’s Cup against the second-class Ventforet Kofu. The underdog, who was celebrating his first major title, prevailed on penalties and will be eligible for next season’s AFC Champions League qualifiers. For Skibbe, who has been with Hiroshima since February, it would have been his first title win in Japan. The 57-year-old has averaged 1.89 points in 46 games to date.
Kofu was in control of the game for a long time, while Hiroshima found few ideas against the opposing defence. After Kazushi Mitsuhira’s opening goal for Kofu (26′), it looked like an unchallenged victory for a long time before Takumu Kawamura equalized in the closing stages (84′) with the favorite’s first notable chance to score. Hiroshima improved in extra time, but still needed a handball penalty in the 118th minute for a chance at the first title of the year. However, Makoto Mitsuta was denied by goalkeeper Kohei Kawata and penalties went to play. There, Hiroshima’s Kawamura was the only shooter to miss. Skibbe and his protégés have their next chance at a title next Saturday (6:05 a.m.) in the League Cup against Cerezo Osaka.
天皇杯決勝 サンフレッチェ 延長ＰＫ戦の末、甲府に惜しくも敗れる pic.twitter.com/xXAgijTNOt
— NHK広島放送局 (@nhk_hiroshima) October 16, 2022
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